Thompson has already switched to new grooves

Alexis Thompson plays a shot at No. 15 during the final round of the Harder Hall Women's Invitational. Thompson lost to Kyle Roig on the first hole of a playoff when Roig made birdie.

With Alexis Thompson’s 15th birthday not coming until Feb. 10, it’s safe to say the pro game is still a couple years away for the young phenom.

But Thompson recently made a change that should help her when she does start playing for play, and in the handful of LPGA starts she’s expected to make this year. Thompson switched to irons and wedges with the new, conforming grooves the week of the Junior Orange Bowl, which she won.

Players competing in LPGA events (including amateurs) have to use the new grooves starting this season, but the new grooves won’t be mandatory for elite amateur events (like the U.S. Women’s Amateur) until 2014. Everyone else has to switch in ’24.

Thompson, Golfweek’s female junior amateur player of the year for ’09, could use the old grooves in amateur events this year, but hopes the full-time switch will put her ahead of the curve when she competes against professionals.

Thompson will likely be one of the amateurs invited to the Kraft Nabisco Championship (she shared low-amateur honors last year), and has qualified for the past three U.S. Women’s Opens.

Thompson’s success hasn’t been slowed by the change. With the new grooves, she won the Orange Bowl, tied for second at the Dixie Amateur, lost a playoff at the Harder Hall Invitational and finished third at The Sally.

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